P bass or Stingray - One and only. (Poll)

[coy garcia]

I love everything about a Ray and I don't like the cheap feel of a P but....I've never been able to get along with my Ray and my P is my go to for recording or certain types of gigs.
I do love the sound of a Ray in other bass players hands but not in mine...I'm conflicted

 

[58kites]

I love everything about a Ray and I don't like the cheap feel of a P but....I've never been able to get along with my Ray and my P is my go to for recording or certain types of gigs.
I do love the sound of a Ray in other bass players hands but not in mine...I'm conflicted

I think a P Bass is the easiest bass to use for a wide range of genres but a StingRay can do almost everything a P Bass can do plus a bunch of stuff a P bass can't do.
I tend to think the old two-band Stingrays and the new Specials are the more/most versatile StingRays.
More twiddling knobs and trying different strings could maybe solve the StingRay problem, trying to make it not sound like a StingRay opened up it's sound palette for me.
A believe a Stingray can be tweaked to sound right with any type of music, the list of players and bands in the Wiki linked page below is large and varied.
Music Man StingRay - Wikipedia.

 

[thisheregiraffe]

OP back again. I'm entertained by those who posted without reading. I guess I'm not the only one who does that

This won't be my one and only bass, but my only bass with rounds. As pictured on page 1, my current P and my fretless 'Ray both wear TI Jazz Flats and will stay that way.

My black 'Ray isn't a MusicMan Stingray, but a Warmoth build with a J neck, East 2-band preamp, and a switch for single/parallel/single. Likewise the P isn't a Precision but will be a Warmoth build with a 32" scale 1.5" neck, will weigh less than 7 lbs, and balance on the strap great.

Sonically, my choice leans toward keeping the 'Ray but the ultralight loaded body I have is a one of a kind thing. If I sell it I can't replace it in any cost-effective manner.

First world problems, I know. :wink:

What's stopping you from ordering a new neck from Warmoth for the loaded lightweight SSB P body and keeping the other basses as they are?

 

[Rnr..........4]

I would say P unless it was an HH Ray, then that would win for me!

HH. When will Fender design the PP lol

Makes me wonder why I've never seen a bass with P and Stingray pickups?

Sandberg does them often. I have an Oliver Riedel Sandberg.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

EBMM should put a preamp defeat or active/passive switch on all their basses IMO

 

[darwin-bass]

What's stopping you from ordering a new neck from Warmoth for the loaded lightweight SSB P body and keeping the other basses as they are?

Cost, storage space, spousal approval - In other words, nothing My gig is a church gig. One bass is already enough. Three is a stretch, four would be excessive.

Still, your answer is the obvious best choice. Keep the 'Ray, build the light weight body into a P with rounds.

 

[sotua]

No, the middle 'Ray is 34" and the ones on the ends are 32". Overall length of the 32" scale basses is ~42" and they fit in some e-gtr gig bags. I haven't measured the 34" scale bass recently. But since the headstock is the same, I'm going to guess the 34" instrument is about 3 inches longer. Say 45" overall?

I'll measure and post real data tonight if you wish.

About 42" and 'fits some guitar bags' works for me, no need for super precise measurements, thanks!

 

[thisheregiraffe]

Cost, storage space, spousal approval - In other words, nothing My gig is a church gig. One bass is already enough. Three is a stretch, four would be excessive.

Still, your answer is the obvious best choice. Keep the 'Ray, build the light weight body into a P with rounds.

Yeah, I'm sitting at 3 basses right now, with ideas to maybe assemble a fourth... and I don't have any gigs at all!

 

[BlueTalon]

HH. When will Fender design the PP lol

They already did -- the Blacktop.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Well my 'Ray kicked both my Jazz basses to the curb because the 'Ray just sounds better than the J. But the P has more than held its own.

Very much the same for me, although instead of a StingRay, mine is the U.S. made Sterling. I don’t own a Jazz Bass, because I prefer the thicker bottom of my Sterling, and it has all the top end that a Jazz Bass has, plus more midrange.

And my Precision Bass isn’t going anywhere.

 

[mellobud]

I’ve found that I still sound like me with whatever bass I use with the band.

I can’t listen to any one band recording and discern which bass I might be playing on that track. I can only guess.

Go with what feels good and plays well if you have the option to try it before you buy.

 

[prndltech]

I only have 2 basses, a 5 string am. Pro. P and a 5 string stingray special HH… and now you want me to pick one?!

That’s like picking the bald eagle or the Flag…


I voted either.
They’re both versatile with a pre amp pedal, both cut through and sit in the mix well. I could play either one for the rest of my life and be happy and I bet I’d get no complaints from any band mates or sound guys.

 

[grrg63]

I would have to stick with my P's, but I would miss my ray.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

If you could have only one fretted four-string bass with rounds for general soft-rock / pop usage, what would it be? P or 'Ray (Stingray)?

I'm considering replacing my Warmoth custom 'Ray with a P. The 'Ray is my only fretted with rounds and I've enjoyed the sound and playability (a lot) but my 32" scale basses are really light weight and absolute joys to play. I have a spare fully-loaded med-scale P body so all I need to add is a neck. Hmm .....

So what did you go with?

 

[darwin-bass]

What's stopping you from ordering a new neck from Warmoth for the loaded lightweight SSB P body and keeping the other basses as they are?

So what did you go with?

In the end I did just what y'all would recommend. I kept the 'Ray and added a roasted neck to my super light weight 32" scale P body. So now I have 4 basses with both the 'Ray and the 'P wearing rounds and the fretless 'Ray and another 'P wearing TI Jazz flats.

2 Rays, 2 P's. I see a pattern. Time to build a couple of J's I think.

 

[thisheregiraffe]

2 Rays, 2 P's. I see a pattern. Time to build a couple of J's I think.

Share some new pictures when you get a chance!

 

[darwin-bass]

Share some new pictures when you get a chance!

Here ya go.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/nbd-and-baby-makes-four.1623763/

 

[lomo]

If I had to have only 1 bass it'd be a G & L 2000....which can do every sound I enjoy....but between a MM and P I'll take the P all day, every day.

 

[Geri O]

I know this has to have been mentioned before, but there's no option in this poll for "BOTH"...

Oh, wait.

I have both.

Never mind....

(and look....I didn't even mention a bass that wasn't listed in the poll!....)

 

[Mike Vee]

I've owned both extensively. The P reigns supreme, but a Stingray is always fun. But, a Stingray at all times begins to get on my nerves. However, plenty of famous bassists WAY better than me have gone very far with a Stingray. Play whatever you like! Either can work especially if you are a great bassist.